- Kathiawari
The Kathiawari is a breed of
horse fromIndia , specifically originating in theKathiawar peninsula.History
By tradition, the Kathiawari is thought to have been first bred in the
14th century , crossing native ponies,Arabian horse s, and other oriental breeds. [http://www.paralumun.com/horsekathiawari.htm "Kathiawari Horse"] . "Paralumun". Referenced January 14, 2008.] There is a legend that shipwrecked Arabian horses swam to shore and bred with local ponies. Others believe that Arabians and other oriental breeds were shipped to India during the reign of the Mughal emperors and deliberately crossed with local breeds. [http://www.equinekingdom.com/breeds/light_horses/kathiawari.htm "Kathiawari"] . "Equine Kingdom". Referenced January 14, 2008.]Kathiawar horses have great endurance and stamina, due to their Arabian ancestry. Highly prized, they were originally bred by wealthy Kathiawar families who would name a strain according to their foundation mare. Today, however, the government-controlled stud at
Junagadh breeds most horses. [http://www.mypets.net.au/flex/kathiawari_horse/361/1 "Kathiawari Horse"] . "My Pets". Referenced January 14, 2008.]Breed Characteristics
The horses, although small, are not ponies. They are between 14.2 and 15 hands high. They can be dun, chestnut, bay, tobiano pinto, and sabino pinto and any of the cream dilutions, including
palomino , buckskin,cremello ,perlino , and smoky cream. Roan, champagne, frame and splashovero , and theAppaloosa pattern are not found in the breed.{citation needed}The Kathiawari is similar in appearance to the Marwari, with extremely turned-in ears that are somewhat larger than those of an ordinary horse and very mobile. Their ears touch together at the tips. They have fine heads attached to a graceful neck. The build is slim and wiry, with a narrow but deep chest. The shoulders are moderately sloping, the back is long, and the croup sloping. The tail is set and carried high. Although the legs are slim, they are strong, and the hooves are tough. The horses usually have hocks that turn slightly inward.
The horses are tough and able to live on smaller quantities of
fodder than many other breeds. Although sometimes unpredictable, they generally have a quiet temperament. Many have a natural ability to pace, possibly from the influence of the breeds of Central Asia.Uses
Today, the horses are used for mounted police work by the
Gujarat division. They are also used in the equestrian game oftent pegging .References
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.
